Dubravko Leonardo Rodriguez

Leo is a violist pursuing a five-year BM/MME degree at the renowned Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institute, with a focus on performance and music education. Majority of his studies in music was as a violinist. Leo switched viola during his high school. He equally played both violin and viola in orchestras during High school. Alongside his studies, Leo is also minoring in cognitive neuropsychology.

His past teaching experiences include work with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program and the Merit School of Music.

Leo’s primary pre-college teacher was Stacia Spencer (Violin/Viola) of Northwestern University. At Peabody, he studies with Victoria Chiang (Viola). He has also studied with Amy Hess, Addison Teng, Peter Slowik, Desiree Ruhstrat, and Stephen Wyrczynski.
Leo has participated in masterclasses with artists such as Rachel Barton Pine and Mathias Tacke.

Outside of practicing, Leo enjoys spending time with his cats and cooking dishes from around the world.

Every student has different needs, so I approach each one with an analytical and inclusive mindset. This is to ensuring that I adapt my teaching accordingly. This helps make my instruction inclusive and responsive to all learners.

My teaching style is inspired by a blend of classical and Suzuki pedagogy, shaped by my experiences with my own teachers. The classical foundation is rooted in the Galamian style, combined with Karen Tuttle’s coordination-based method to promote alignment and help prevent injury throughout each student’s journey. I assess each student individually to determine their appropriate Suzuki level and Etudes that are appropriate for technical development.